Show-case.



No. 6 12,1107; ,Patentd Ian. 30, I900.

F; X. GANTER.

SHOW CASE.

ication filed June 12, 1899.

(No Model.) 2 Shuts-Sheet I.

Fig.1.

Witnesses:

QAMZM'Q AttnFu-LE Unwrap STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS X. GANTER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SHOW-OAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 6. 642,107, dated January 30, 1906.

Application filed June 12, 1899. Serial No. 720,132. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, FRANCIS X. GANTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Show-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved construction for showcases, whereby the frames so commonly used may be dispensed with and the corners or joints of the glass sides and top may be dust-proof.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of a showcase embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section at a corner of two glass plates. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a metal joint-piece. Fig. i is a view of one of the bolts employed. Figs. 5 and 6 are horizontal section-views of corners, each showing a modification of the metal joint-piece. Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-section of a show-case in which the metal joint-strip is employed also as a bolt by which to confine the glass top plate to the bottom. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the top corner of a show-case embodying the construction shown in Fig.7. Fig. 9 is a top plan view of one corner of' the glass front and end plates and the corner metal plate thereon. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the metal corner-plate. Fig. 11 is a per spective View of the metal joint-strip provided at its ends with bolts.

The bottom A of the case may be made of anysuitable material. The bottom and top rails C O of the sliding doors may be made of wood or metal. The front, side, ends, and top are to be made of glass plate. The bottom rail C for the doors D may be of anypreferred construction and have beads or tongues e on which the doors slide. The top rail 0 may be of wood and also have beads or tongues f. A U-shaped metal rail G has two parallel sides h it like a clip, and these take over the back edge 2' of the top plate J, one of said parallel sides, h, being below or under the plate and the other, h, being above or over the plate. The longitudinal edge of each side or rail G is bent inward, as at 7t, and these bent edges bear in contact with the surfaces of the top plate, as shown. This results in forming a narrow space or chamber Z within the U-shaped rail G both below and above the top plate. These spaces serve to receive a suitable packing of cotton, Wool, felt, or any known material that will prevent ingress of dust. The upper wood door-rail G is in contact with the lower parallel side it of the U- shaped metal rail, and the latter, with the packing referred to, makes the joint between the door-rail and glass plate J. A boss mis on the inner surface of the upper parallel side it of the rail G, and a screw-bolt 72 passes up through the top rail 0 for the doors through the lower parallel side of the U-clip through the glass top plate J and enters the said boss m, and thus the screw secures the door-rail and U-shaped metal rail to the glass plate. Of course as many bosses m and screws or will be used as may be necessary.

The letter O designates the front vertical glass side, and P the glass end. Wherever a joint is formed by the edge of one glass plate being presented to the side surface of another plate, I insert a metal joint-strip between, said strip being provided with one or more longitudinal grooves or spaces for the reception of a suitable packing material to make the joint dust-proof. One form of the metal joint-strip Q, is shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. It is made of sheet metal and has two grooves 1', one on a side opposite the other, the grooves being produced by the peculiar cross-section formation, which is similar to a letter S. Holes .9 are in the metal at one of the grooves, and bolts 25 through the holes clamp the joint-strip to the side surface of one glass plate 0. The other plate, P, has its edge abutted against the joint-strip Q. Short tangs or arms a project from one of the terminal edges of the joint-strip. Each of these has a hole, and a bolt 15 passes through this hole and through the other glass plate P, and thereby the plates are united. It will be seen that the metal joint-strip is flush with the outer surface of the glass plate against whose edge the strip bears. The longitudinal grooves or spaces r are to be filled with any suitable packing, and thus make dust-tight joints.

It is to be understood that the metal jointstrips may be of any desired cross-sectional formation that provides longitudinal grooves or spaces for inserting packing. In Figs. 5 and 6 are shown two modifications of the application of strips, which will be readily understood without more detailed description.

The dust-proof j oint-strip may have a screwthreaded bolt on the one or both ends, as in Fig. 11, and thereby serve to confine the glass top plate to the bottom The strip Q may have suitable longitudinal grooves on its opposite sides to receive the packing material and a bolt '0 attached at each end or one end and projecting in line with the strip. A metal corner-plate to has two right-angled ends and on its lower side is grooved to set upon the top edge of the glass front plate 0 and glass end plate P. This corner-plate sets flush with the outer surfaces of both of these glassplates and has a hole 12 for the bolt '1; on the joint-strip. A suitable tubular socket 0c is internally threaded and has a head 0:, which fits close down upon the top glass plate, while the socket itself enters a hole in this plate. The top bolt 0 0n the joint-strip is screwed into this socket no. The lower end of the joint-strip enters the bottom A, and a suitable nut (indicated at 1 broken lines) in the bottom secures the lower bolt 2;.

Up to this point theinvention has been described as applied to a show-case; but it is to be understood that it is not limited to showcases. Obviously it can as well be applied to other structures where two glass plates are to be in such relation as to form a corner or joint.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The combination of two glass plates at angles with respect to each otherthe edge of one being presented to the side surface of the other to form a corner or joint; a metal joint-strip between the two glass plates and separating them and flush with the outer surface of the plate against whose edge the strip bears-said joint-strip provided with tangs or arms, u, which project from the strip onto the inner side surface of one plate; a bolt attaching each tang or arm to said glass plate; and a bolt which passes through the said strip and through the other glass plate.

2. The combination of two glass plates at angles with respect to each otherthe edge of one being presented to the side surface of the other to formacornerorjoint; anda metal j oint-strip between the two plates and separating them and flush with the outer surface of the plate against whose edge the strip bears-said strip having longitudinal grooves or spaces on its opposite sides which receive packing material.

in line with the strip; and means at the top glass plate and at the bottom for engaging said bolts.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS X. GANTER.

Witnesses:

THOS. O. BAILEY, GEORGE H. KOETH'ERL. 

